Yamaha invited me to San Diego in November 2017 for a first ride aboard a new model, the XSR700. This assignment included me attending a press intro and participating in a first ride of the bike. Excerpts from the review are included below and you can find the complete article, which now resides on Riders Domain’s parent company’s content site, RM Rider Exchange, here: 2018 Yamaha XSR700 First Test Review.
“…It’s a machine where the past, present and future collide in a subtle yet striking package. One that looks the part of a neo-retro motorcycle with performance capabilities befitting a contemporary bike…”
“…Or in other words, it’s thoroughly usable. During our stop and go moments downtown, clicking up through the first three gears of the bike’s velvety six-speed transmission provided more than enough power to break away from cars when the lights turned. It revs up to around 10,000 rpm and starts to sing just above 5000 rpm, with instant response in the mid and upper middle range…”
“…Here too its lithe nature proved useful, flitting in and out of lanes effortlessly. But it’s not a small-feeling machine, despite it’s small-bike handling. It is substantial enough to feel steady and secure at speed and doesn’t bog down when you ask for more from the engine…”
“…The bottom line is the XSR700 is a motorcycle that will hold its own on dealership floors. It delivers fun balanced performance on the road in a comfortable and stylish package. It’s icing on the cake to have access to the extensive accessory catalog, allowing riders to immediately begin tweaking their bike in whichever way they choose. A thoughtful motorcycle from every aspect, and one I would be thrilled to have as a daily rider…”